stereo receiver

stereo receiver

An audio amplifier and switching device for a stereo system. The receiver contains inputs for all the audio sources and outputs to one or more sets of speakers. It may also include an AM/FM tuner. Although a stereo receiver has its own amplifier to drive the speakers, it may provide outputs from its preamplifier for connection to an external amplifier with greater power (see stereo system).

In a Home Theater
A stereo receiver may be used in a home theater environment to provide high-quality audio for video sources; however, if there are multiple video sources, the video-only signals are typically wired directly into and switched by the TV set. An "A/V receiver" provides a more convenient alternative. It includes all the features of a stereo receiver as well as video inputs and switches both the audio and video from a video source at the same time (see A/V receiver). See home theater.